Plastic binder

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an integral plastic binder which comprises a trunk, a plurality of branches extending at fixed intervals from either or both of the sides of the said trunk and swelled tips formed one at each free end of the branch extending from the trunk. When this plastic binder is wound around objects subjected to bundling and one end of the trunk is inserted in the interval between a suitable pair of adjacent swelled tips on the other end of the trunk and accommodated in the space between the corresponding pair of adjacent branches, the jaws on the underside of the swelled tips seize the accommodated portion of the other end of the trunk fast in position and prevent the seized end of the trunk from escaping through the said interval.

United States Patent [191 Hara Kunio Hara, Sagamihara, Japan [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 15, 1973 Japan 48-90824 [52] US. Cl 24/16 PB; 24/206 A; 403/346 [51] Int. Cl. B65D 63/00; A44B 17/00 [58] Field of Search 24/16 PB, 206 A, 30.5 P;

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1958 Korchak 46/28 3,110,647 11/1963 Tong 3,780,401 12/1973 Rcincr 24/16 PB FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,331,581 5/1963 France 403/346 Oct. 28, 1975 Primary Examiner'B'ernard A. Gelak Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert W. Beart; Jack R. Halvorsen [57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is an integral plastic binder which comprises a trunk, a plurality of branches extending at fixed intervals from either or both of the sides of the said trunk and swelled tips formed one at each free end of the branch extending from the trunk. When this plastic binder is wound around objects subjected to bundling and one end of the trunk is inserted in the interval between a suitable pair of adjacent swelled tips on the otherend of the trunk and accommodated in the space between the corresponding pair of adjacent branches, the jaws on the underside of the swelled tips seize the accommodated portion of the other end of the trunk fast in position and prevent the seized end of the trunk from escaping through the said interval.

9 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent 'Oct.28, 1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,914,823

Sheet 2 of 4 US. Patent Oct.28,1975 Sheet3 of4 3,914,823

U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet4 0f4 3,914,823

PLASTIC BINDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates to a binder formed of a plastic material having appropriate elasticity such as of nylon 6, polyethylene or polypropylene and used for binding or bundling objects in the form of bars and wires.

Heretofore, cords, metallic wires, tapes, etc. have been used for keeping bars, wires, etc. in a bundled or bound state.

To retain these binding means in such bundling or binding state, it has been inevitably necessary that the binding means be provided at one end thereof with a buckle.

An object of this invention is to provide a plastic binder which can be used for the same purpose as cords, metallic wires and tapes generally employed for binding or bundling articles and which can readily be fastened into a binding or bundling state without requiring the work of tying otherwise required as in the use of tapes or the work of twisting involved as in the use of metallic wires.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plastic binder which is capable of binding given objects tightly with its length readily adjusted in accordance with the bundle diameter of the objects without requiring use of a buckle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

\ To attain the objects of the present invention described above, there is provided a binder which is made of a plastic material and has, as its integral parts, a trunk, a plurality of branches extending at fixed intervals to a fixed length from either or both of the two sides of the said trunk and swelled tips formed one at each free end of the branch extending from the trunk, whereby the jaws formed on the underside of the swelled tips serve the purpose of providing tight engagement with the loose end of the trunk wound around objects.

Since the binder of the present invention permits required fastening by means of the tight engagement between the jaws on the underside of the swelled tips of branches and the loose end of the trunk, the fastening can be accomplished with ease and the relative position for such fastening on the binder can freely be chosen in accordance with the bundle diameter of objects subjected to fastening.

Other objects and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given herein below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING:

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the manner in which given objects are bundled by the binder according to this invention.

FIG. 2(A) is an enlarged plan view of the binder of FIG. 1 in a fastened state.

FIG. 2(B) is an enlarged side view of the binder of FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of the diagram of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6(A) and FIG. 6(B) are respectively a plan view and a side view of yet another embodiment of the binder of this invention in a fastened state.

FIG. 7(A) and FIG. 7(B) are respectively a plan view and a side view of another embodiment of the binder of the present invention in a fastened state.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged explanatory diagram illustrating a further embodiment of the binder of this invention in a fastened state.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view of the binder of FIG. 8 in a fastened state.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a partially modified embodiment of the binder of FIG. 7 in a fastened state.

FIG. 11 is a side view in partial cross section of a modified embodiment including branches extending only from one side of the trunk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the binder of the present'ihvention which is wound around objects subjected to bundling. FIG. 2 illustrates the first embodiment of the binder of this invention, wherein the trunk 1 has a rectangular cross section. From one side face la of the trunk 1, branches 2a having a length of] extend at intervals of L. Similarly, from the other side face lb of the trunk 1, branches 2b having the same length of I extend at the same intervals of L. The branches 2a and 2b are provided at their free ends each with a swelled tip 3 in a hemispherical shape. The branches 2a and 2b have a circular cross section with a diameter of r which is smaller than the diameter R of the swelled tips 3. Hence, the swelled tips 3 each form an annular jaw 4 in the plane in which they engage with their corresponding branches.

In this embodiment, the jaws of the swelled tips of the adjacent branches 2a at one end 1 of the trunk l are brought into engagement with the side face la at the other end 1" of the trunk l and the jaws of the swelled tips of the adjacent branches 2b at the end 1" of the trunk into engagement .with the side face lb at the end 1' of the trunk. For this purpose, the width W of the trunk 1 is so fixed as to be equal to or slightly smaller than the length I of the branches. The thickness t of the trunk l is so fixed as to be equal to or slightly larger or smaller than the interval L between adjacent branches. In a typical example of this embodiment, the trunk 1 has a width (W) of 1.4mm and a thickness (t) of 2.2mm, the branches measure 1mm in diameter (r) and 1.6mm in length (I) and are spaced by intervals (L) of 2.14mm and the swelled tips have a diameter of 1.6mm and are spaced by closing intervals (L) of 1.54mm.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the binder is wound in one or more complete circles around objects subjected to binding or bundling, with one side face of the width W of the trunk 1 brought into contact with the outer bundle surface of the objects. Then, the two loose ends 1' and l" of the trunk l are crossed at right angles so that the side face lb of the end 1' and the side face la of the end 1" confront each other and the two ends of the trunk are forcibly pushed past the closing interval L between the adjacent swelled tips and accommodated in the interval L between the corresponding adjacent branches as illustrated in FIG. 2(A) and FIG. 2(B). Consequently, the side face lb of the end 1' and the side face la of the end 1" confront each other, the jaws of thc swelled tips of the branches 2b extending from the side face lb at the end I come into engagement with the side face lb of the end I", the jaws of the swelled tips of the branches 2a extending from the side face la at the end 1 come into engagement with the side face la of the end I, so that the ends 1 and l are prevented by the engaging branches from moving in the direction of the length of the trunk and are retained unloosened in a binding or bundling state and, at the same time, the two ends 1 and 1" are prevented by the swelled tips from disengaging in the direction opposite the direction of engagement. Hence, the binder will not readily come loose from its binding or bundling state.

Naturally the binder can be loosened from its fastened state by applying force to the binder in the direction opposite the direction of engagement so that the side faces of the trunk are brought out of engagement with the jaws of the swelled tips. While one loose end of the trunk is pushed down in the direction of engagement, however, the edges of the incoming end of the trunk push outwardly the spherical surfaces of the swelled tips and go past them while having the width surfaces slide against the-spherical surfaces and the corresponding branches bent outwardly. After the width surfaces have completed their travel past the swelled tips, the branches automatically resume their original vertical position, causing the jaws 4 to be brought into engagement with the side face of the trunk. Thus, the force required for pushing the trunk into engagement is small. In contrast, the force to be exerted in the direction opposite that of engagement to break the engagement is larger by far than the force required for pushing the loose end of the trunk into engagement, for the jaws 4 and the side faces 1a and lb of the trunk which are held in mutual engagement are both flat. This engagement is difficult to break.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the trunk 1 has a cruciform cross section. On the width faces, protruding steps 5a and 5b are formed along the center, so that the jaws of the swelled tips of the branches 2a extending from the side face la are designed for engagement with the protruding step 5a and the jaws of the swelled tips of the branches 2b extending from the side face lb for engagement with the protruding step 5b respectively.

For this engagement, the length l of the individual branches is fixed so as to be equal to or slightly greater than the width w from the side face la to the protruding step 5b or from the side face lb to the protruding step 5a. In this way, the length I need not be so great as the width W of the trunk, permitting savings in the amount of plastic material to be used.

In a typical example of this embodiment, the trunk 1 has an overall width of 2.2mm and a thickness 2 of 1.6mm, the width w, from one side face to the protruding step is 1.4mm, the step 5 has a height of 0.3mm, the branches 2 each measure 1.0mm in diameter r and l.6mm in length l, the branches are spaced by intervals L of 2.14mm and the swelled tips have a diameter of 1.6mm and are spaced by closing intervals of 1.54mm.

This binder can be used similarly to that of Example 1. To be specific, the binder is wound around given objects and the loose ends 1 and 1" of the trunk are crossed at right angles to each other, forcibly pushed down past the closing intervals L between the adjacent swelled tips so as to be accommodated within the intervals L between the corresponding adjacent branches until the jaws of the swelled tips of the branches 2b extending from the side face 1b at the end I are brought into engagement with the protruding step 5b at the end 1" and the jaws of the swelled tips of the branches 2a extending from the side face la at the end 1'' into engagement with the protruding step 5a at the end 1 respectively, so that the binder is held in a binding or bundling state which permits disengagement afterward.

In the third embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the trunk 1 has an I-I-shaped cross section, with a recessed step 6a formed behind the side face la and another recessed step 6b behind the side face lb respectively of the trunk 1, so as to further decrease the length l of branches as compared with that of the branches of the embodiment of Example 2. Between the recessed steps 6a and 6b is formed a groove 6' intended for receiving the swelled tips 3. Consequently, the length of the branches 2 is only required to be equal to or slightly greater than the width w from the side face la (or lb) of the trunk 1 to the recessed step 6a (or 6b) formed behind the said side face. In a typical example of this embodiment, the trunk 1 measures 2.1mm in overall width, 2.0mm in thickness 1, at the portion from which the branches extend and 1.2mm in thickness t 2 at the portion intervening the branches (in the shape of a spectacles frame), the width W2 from the side face In (or lb) to the recessed step 6a (or 6b) is 0.6mm, the thickness t of the central connecting strip in the I-I-shaped trunk is 0.4mm, the branches measure 1.2mm in diameter r and 0.8mm in length l, the intervals L between the branches are 1.9mm, the swelled tips have a diameter R of 2.0mm and the closing intervals L between the adjacent swelled tips are 1.1mm.

The fourth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 has a trunk l with an l-I-shaped cross section so as to decrease the length of the branches similarly to the third embodiment. It differs from any of the binders so far described in that the thickness t of the trunk and the closing intervals L are so fixed as to satisfy the relationship of L t.

In a typical example of this embodiment, the trunk measures 1.6mm in overall width and 1.2mm in thickness r, the width w from the side face la (or lb) to the recessed step 6a (or 6b) is 0.5mm, the depth of the step is 025mm, the branches measure 0.7mm in diameter r and 0.6mm in length l, the intervals between the branches are 1.7lmm, the swelled tips have a diameter R of 1.2mm and the closing intervals L between the adjacent swelled tips are 1.2lmm. Consequently, the length of the branches is only 0.6mm compared with 1.6mm of the trunks width. Naturally, the length I may be 0.5mm.

After the binder has been wound around given objects, the loose ends 1 and 1" are brought closer to each other and crossed at right angles to each other. Consequently, the portions of the trunk at the said loose ends are moved smoothly past the closing intervals L between the adjacent swelled tips and are accommodated within the intervals L between the corresponding adjacent branches until the side face lb at the end 1 is brought into engagement with the side face la at the end 1 (FIG. 6(A) and FIG. 6(8)). The forces exerted to bring the ends 1 and 1" toward each other are released after the engagement is established. Consequently, the elasticity possessed by the trunk and the force which the objects in a bundled state exert upon the trunk in their attempt to expand the bundle work cooperatively at the point of crossingjbetween the ends 1 and 1. As a result, the ends lfandl shift their positions so that the angles at which they are crossed .are changed as illustrated in FIG. 7(A) and FIG. 7(a), so that the jaws of the swelled tips of the branches extending from the side face lb at the end 1 are automatically brought into engagement with the recessed face 6a formed behind the side face la at the end 1" and the jaws of the swelled tips of the branches extending from the side face 1a at the end 1 are similarly brought into engagement with the recessed face 6b formed beyond the side face lb at the end 1.

To break this engagement, the jaws 4 may be removed from the corresponding recessed faces by exerting great force in the same way as in the first, second and third embodiments. Alternatively, desired breakage of the engagement may be accomplished by reversing the procedure followed in making the engagement,

namely, by pulling the ends 1' and 1" toward each other, then turning the pulled ends so that they cross each other at right angles, removing the jaws from the recessed faces and pulling the corresponding end portions of the trunk past the closing intervals between the adjacent swelled tips.

In all the embodiments described to this point, the branches and their respective swelled tips together are in the shape of mushrooms. The branches and their swelled tips according to the present invention are not necessarily limited to the shape of mushrooms. They may be shaped like the letter T as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In this fifth embodiment, the trunk 1 is in the shape of a wire with a circular cross section. The branches which extend to a fixed length I from two opposite sides of the trunk are provided at their free ends each with a T-shaped head 3 which contains jaws 4 and 4 in the shape of corners. In this embodiment, the length l of the branches is equal to or slightly greater than the diameter R of the trunk 1 so that the jaws possessed by the branches 2a are brought into engagement with the side 1b of the trunk and the jaws possessed by the branches 2b into engagement with the side la of the trunk in much the same way as the first embodiment.

In a typical example of this embodiment, the trunk 1 has a diameter R of 1.1mm, the branches 2 measure 1.2mm in length l and 1.0mm in diameter r, the intervals L between the adjacent branches are 3.2mm, the heads have a thickness of 1.0mm and a length of 3.2mm in the direction of the length of trunk and the closing intervals L between the adjacent heads are 1.0mm.

After the binder has been wound around given objects, the loose ends 1 and l of the trunk are pulled and crossed at right angles to each other or at some other suitable angles, forcibly pushed down past the closing interval L between the adjacent heads and accommodated in the interval L between the corresponding adjacent branches until the jaws of the heads of the branches 2b extending from the side face lb at the end 1' are brought into engagement with the side face lb at the end 1 and the jaws of the heads of the branches 2a extending from the side face la at the end 1" into engagement with the side face 1a at the end 1 respectively.

Of course, this engagement can be broken by reversing the procedure described above. In this particular embodiment, desired engagement between the two loose ends of trunk can be accomplished by having the jawsof the heads caught by and suspended from the branches.

F all the embodiments illustrated above, the binders have branches 2a and 2b extend in opposite directions at the same positions on the trunk 1. Alternatively, the positions at which the branches extend from the opposite sides of the trunk may be staggered as illustrated in FIG. 10. Otherwise, these branches may be so positioned that each pair of branches extending at one position on the trunk contains an angle of It is also permissible that the branches be positioned so that they extend from only one side of the trunk as illustrated in FIG. 11.

As is evident from the foregoing description, the binder of the present invention can be brought into a fastened state without requiring a buckle. Therefore, one binder of this invention can be used for binding or bundling given objects at as many positions as desired similarly to a cord or metallic wire. Unlike such conventional binding means. however, the binder precludes the necessary for such work as tying or twisting and therefore eliminates the possible phenomenon of loosening which would otherwise occur in the work of tying or twisting.

What is claimed is:

1. A plastic binder comprising a trunk having a predetermined cross-sectional configuration including a predetermined thickness and width, a plurality of cylindrical branches extending in spaced relation from at least one side of the said trunk having a diameter less than said predetermined configuration and spaced from the next adjacent branch a distance equal to or slightly greater than said predetermined width hemi spherical tips formed on each free end of the branches and providing a rounded face and flat circular shoulder facing its adjacent trunk and spaced therefrom a distance equal to or greater than said predetermined thickness, whereby given articles are bundled by winding the binder around the articles, inserting and accommodating one loose remaining end of the trunk between a pair of adjacent branches extending at the other loose end of the binder for thereby allowing the accommodated end of the trunk to be held fast by the shoulder on the underside of the tips of the said pair of adjacent branches.

2. The binder of claim 1 wherein the plurality of branches are disposed in spaced relation on both sides of the trunk.

3. The binder of claim 2, wherein the branches disposed on both sides of the trunk assume symmetrical spaced positions with reference to the trunk.

4. The binder of claim 2, wherein the branches dis posed on one side of the trunk assume staggered spaced positions with reference to those disposed on the other side of the trunk.

5. The binder of claim 1, wherein the branches extend from one side face of the trunk.

6. The binder of claim 1, wherein the trunk has a square cross section.

7. The binder of claim 1, wherein the trunk has a cruciform cross section and the shoulder engages the transverse extension or rib of said trunk.

8. The binder of claim 1, wherein the trunk has an H- shaped cross section and said tip is accepted between cross-sectional configuration greater in extent than the spacing between adjacent cylindrical branches and thereby assist in the retention between associated ends of the trunk. 

1. A PLASTIC BINDER COMPRISING A TRUNK HAVING A PREDETERMINED CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION INCLUDING A PREDETERMINED THICKNESS AND WIDTH, A PLURALITY OF CYLINDRICAL BRANCHES EXTENDING IN SPACED RELATION FROM AT LEAST ONE SIDE OF THE SAID TRUNK HAVING A DIAMETER LESS THAN SAID PREDETERMINED CONFIGURATION AND SPACED FROM THE NEXT ADJACENT BRANCH A DISTANCE EQUAL TO OR SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED WIDTH HEMISPHERICAL TIPS FORMED ON EACH FREE END OF THE BRANCHES AND PROVIDING A ROUNDED FACE AND FLAT CIRCULAR SHOULDER FACING ITS ADJACENT TRUNK AND SPACED THEREFROM A DISTANCE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED THICKNESS, WHEREBY GIVEN ARTICLES ARE BUNDLED BY WINDING THE BINDER AROUND THE ARTICLES, INSERTING AND ACCOMODATING ONE LOOSE REMAINING END OF THE TRUNK BETWEEN A PAIR OF ADJACENT BRANCHES EXTENDING AT THE OTHER LOOSE END OF THE BINDER FOR THEREBY ALLOWING THE ACCOMMODATED END OF THE TRUNK TO BE HELD FAST BY THE SHOULDER ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TIPS OF THE SAID PAIR OF ADJACENT BRANCHES.
 2. The binder of claim 1 wherein the plurality of branches are disposed in spaced relation on both sides of the trunk.
 3. The binder of claim 2, wherein the branches disposed on both sides of the trunk assume symmetrical spaced positions with reference to the trunk.
 4. The binder of claim 2, wherein the branches disposed on one side of the trunk assume staggered spaced positions with reference to those disposed on the other side of the trunk.
 5. The binder of claim 1, wherein the branches extend from one side face of the trunk.
 6. The binder of claim 1, wherein the trunk has a square cross section.
 7. The binder of claim 1, wherein the trunk has a cruciform cross section and the shoulder engages the transverse extension or rib of said trunk.
 8. The binder of claim 1, wherein the trunk has an H-shaped cross section and said tip is accepted between the legs of said H-shape with said shoulder engaging one of said legs.
 9. The binder of claim 8, wherein the legs of the H-shaped trunk section are increased in lateral extension by protuberances adjacent each branch to provide a cross-sectional configuration greater in extent than the spacing between adjacent cylindrical branches and thereby assist in the retention between associated ends of the trunk. 